The Opéra C lobby

Concorde F, Madeleine D, Opéra E... the Collines de l'Arche buildings in La Défense, owned by Cofia, offer vast reception areas. This was not the case, until recently, for the last of the four, Opéra C. The challenge presented to Chambers architects was therefore simple: to magnify the premises to bring them up to the level of their counterparts already designed by the agency.

Today, visitors and future occupants of Opéra C discover a spectacular, warm volume clad in gold metallic mesh. The transformation is the result of a combination of interventions on both space and materials: an extended floor area, reclaimed from the adjacent office space, a wall lined with a mesh curtain, the installation of a mirror-effect stretched canvas ceiling, the relocation and widening of the double-height glass access door, and the repositioning of the reception desk. The visual effect is striking, and the sensation of being enveloped from the moment you enter is both gentle and warm. The upper floors, common areas and elevator landings have also been completely renovated in anticipation of their new tenants.